Amazon to cut 14,000 more corporate jobs next week in new wave of layoffs

Total layoffs reach 30,000 as CEO Andy Jassy Vows to strip away "bureaucracy tax" and restore startup speed.

Amazon is preparing to launch a second massive wave of corporate layoffs as early as Tuesday, January 27, 2026. Sources familiar with the matter report that approximately 14,000 positions are on the chopping block, bringing the company's total planned workforce reduction to 30,000 roles - the largest in its 30-year history.

This "second wave" follows an initial cull of 14,000 employees in October 2025 and signals a decisive, permanent shift in how the world’s largest retailer manages its white-collar staff.

Departments in the crosshairs

The upcoming cuts are expected to mirror the October round, hitting high-growth and high-cost divisions that expanded rapidly during the pandemic.

• AWS (Amazon Web Services): The cloud unit, which has seen growth normalise, is expected to bear a significant portion of the cuts as the company optimises for AI-driven efficiency.

• Prime Video & Studios: Continued restructuring of content and production teams to prioritize profitability over volume.

• Retail Operations: Streamlining the core e-commerce business to eliminate redundant management layers.

• PXT (People Experience and Technology): Amazon’s Human Resources division remains heavily impacted as the company requires fewer recruiters and HR managers for a shrinking corporate base.

The narrative shift: It's "culture," not just cash

In a notable change of messaging, CEO Andy Jassy has moved away from blaming "economic headwinds" or "AI displacement" for the job losses. Instead, he has framed the 30,000 cuts as a necessary cultural purge.

"The announcement is not really financially driven, and it's not even really AI-driven," Jassy told analysts during a recent earnings call. "It's culture. You end up with a lot more people than what you had before, and you end up with a lot more layers."

Jassy’s goal is to reduce the ratio of managers to individual contributors, aiming to operate like the "world’s largest startup." By "flattening" the organisation, Amazon hopes to push decision-making closer to the front lines and eliminate the "bureaucracy tax" that slows down innovation.

Timeline and severance

For many employees, the news arrives at a moment of extreme tension.

Employees affected by the October round were given a 90-day grace period to find internal roles. That period expires this Monday, January 26, just 24 hours before the next round of pink slips is expected to drop.

Sources indicate Amazon will offer similar severance packages as before, including a minimum of 60 days of pay, outplacement services, and extended health insurance benefits.

The 10% reality

While 30,000 jobs is a fraction of Amazon's 1.58 million global workforce (which includes warehouse staff), it represents nearly 10% of the company's total corporate headcount.